Portable seesaw



Feb., 26, w E. HEINLY PORTABLE SEESAW Filed Oct. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheetl PORTABLE SEESAW Filed Oct. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 26, 1935. E.HEINLY 1,992,825

PORTABLE SEESAW Filed Oct. 19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L Feb.'26, 1935. EyHElNLY n 1,992,825

PORTABLE SEE SAW Filed Oct. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Figure 3 is afragmentary view in vertical section of the seat structure.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in vertical section of the centralportion of the seesaw.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6--6 Figure 5.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating several of theelements employed to form the lower central combined bearing, couplingand pivot structure -for the rocking or teetering structure.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 Figure l.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary View in section illustrating thereinforcement for the ends -o-f the lower bars of the rocking orteetering structure.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the body portion of a seat carrier.

Figure 13 is an inverted perspective View of the seat.

Figure 14 is a disassembled view in perspective of the combined couplingbearing and pivot structure between a seat structure and rocking orteetering structure.

Figure 15 is a sectional elevation showing a modified form of seatstructure.

The seesaw includes a supporting structure 15, a rockable or teeteringstructure 16 hereinafter termed a teetering structure, a pair of seatstructures 17, 18, a pair of combined lower end bearing, coupling andpivot structures 19, 20 ior the structure 16 with respect to thestructures 17, 18, an upper central combined bearing, coupling and pivotstructure 21 for the structure 16 with respect to the structure 15, alower central combined bearing, coupling and pivot structure 22 for thestructure 16 with respect to the structure 15, and a lpair of combinedupper end bearing, coupling and pivot structures 23, 24 for thestructure 16 with respect to the structures 17, 18.

The supporting structure 15 (Figures 1, 5 and 6) is of skeleton form andincludes a pair of spaced parallel bars 25 standing on their lowerlengthwise extending edges, a combined coupling and supporting bar 26 ofgreater height than the bars 25, disposed at right angles to the latter,standing on its lower lengthwise extending edge and positioned inaligning notches 27 formed in the top edges of the bars 25 at thetransverse medians of the latter. The bars 25 overlap the bar 26. .Thebars 257 26 are detachably connected together at their vertical medians.The bar 26 is of greater thickness than either of the bars 25.Positioned at the center of each side ofV bar 26 is the lower portion ofan upright..` The uprights are arranged in parallel spaced relation,

designated 23, depend slightly below bar 26 and are anchored to thelatter by the holdfast devices 29. Each upright 28 is formed inproximity to its upper end with a transverse opening 30. The openings 30of the uprights 28 align with each other. Each upright is also providedat a point between its transverse median and its opening 30 with anopening 31 of greater diameter than the opening 30. The openings 30 and31 in each upright also align with the openings. The openings 31 in theuprights align with each other. The upper edges 32 of the uprights arerounded.

The teetering structure 16 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11) includes a pair ofopposed spaced lower slightly bow-shaped oblong members or bars 34 ofthe desired length, width and thickness and of like form. The members 34arepreferably formed of wood, are oppositely disposed with respect toeach other and each is formed with a central opening 35 and an openinginproximity tofeach end therealso includes upper member 37 in the formof a bar disposed in spaced alignment with respect to the center of thespace formed between the members 34. The member 37 is of slightly lesslength than either of and coupled with the members 34 in a manner ashereinafter referred to. The means coupling the members 34 and 35 alsocouples the seat structures with the said members and forms a part ofthe teetering structure. Each member 34 in proximity to its openings 36and inwardly with respect to the latter is formed with verticallydisposed reinforcing means as indicated at 38, Figure 11. The ends ofthe members 34 are rounded as at 39. The reinforcing means is in theform of a metal rod upset at each end. The member 37 is preferablyformed or" wood.

With reference to Figures l, 2, 3, 12 and 13, each of the seatstructures includes a seatcarrer 40 formed of an outer rectangular part41 and an enlarged inner part 42. The bottom edge of the latter forms acontinuation of the bottom edge of the former. The inner edge 43 ofportion 42 is of convex curvature. The part 42 extends beyond the topedge 44 of part 41. The top edge 45 of part 42 is or" ogee curvature.The carrier 4G is disposed upon its lower lengthwise edge and is of thedesired thickness and height. The part 4l intermediate its ends isformed with a vertically disposed opening 46. lThe part 42 rearwardly ofits vertical center and below its longitudinal center is formed withtransverse openings v47 and l above and aligning with the latter with anopening 43 of less diameter than the opening 47. Each side of part 42 isformed with a vertical groove 49 extending from the bottom to the tcpedge of said part. The outer ends of the openings 47, 48 are intersectedcentrally by the longitudinal medians of the inner walls of thegrooves49. Terminating at its lower end in the top of the wall or opening 47 isa lubricant conducting channel 50 disposed centrally and lengthwise ofthe inner wall of one of the grooves 49. The upper end of channel 5U isclosed and spaced from opening 43.

Each seat structure also includes a seat member 51 formed of an enlargedouter part 52 and a narrow inner part 53 formed intermediate its endswith an opening 54, The inner end portion ofthe lower face of part 53 isformed with a groove 55 opening at the inner end 56 of member 51, Thetop wall ci groove 55 is upon a curve, as at 57 extending upwardly in adirection towards said end 56. The width of groove 55 corresponds to thethickness ofthe carrier 40. The member 5l is seated upon the top edge ofcarrier 40 v-,f'ith the opening 54 registering with opening 46 and thetop wall of groove 55 bearing against a. portion of the upper edge ofpart 42 of the carrier. The groove 55 provides for the inner end portionof part 53 of member 51 to overlap a portionl of part 42 of the carrier.Extending'through the registering openings 46,- 54 is a holdi'ast means53' for anchoring the carrier and seat member together. The side wallsof groove 55 prevents the lateral shifting of member 51 relative' to thecarrier.

Each of the combined bearing, coupling and pivot structures 19, 20(Figures 1, 3 and 10) in` cludes a pair of fiat vertical links 58', 58which are seated in the grooves 49, ush at their lower ends with thebottom edge and of a length to extend upwardly above the part 42` of acarrier. Each link is formed with openings 59, 59 and 59"; The latter isof greater diameter than the other` openings in the link and has theinner end thereof ush with the wall of opening 47 of the carrier. Theopenings 59 of the links register with the opening 48 of the carrier. Aholdiast means 60 extends through the registering openings 48, 59 forsecuring the links to the carrier. The pivot structure 19 or 20 alsoincludes a bolt 69 having a head 61 at one end and peripheral threads 61at its other end. A fixed coupling sleeve 62 is mounted in the opening47 of the carrier and in the openings 59" of the linlis. Each opening 59is tapered. The openings 59" are oppositely disposed with respect toeach other. The sleeve 62 has its ends expanded, as at 63 to bindagainst the walls of the openings 59 whereby the sleeve is anchored tothe links and acts as additional securing means etween the links and thecarrier. The sleeve 62 in proximity to one end thereof is provided witha port 68 which establishes cominunication between the channel 59 andthe interior of sleeve 62. Loosely mounted within the latter andextended from each of the links is a bearing sleeve 64 having its endsabutting a pair of spacing washers 65 positioned against the inner faceof the members 34. The bolt ex tends through the openings 36 at one endof the members 34, the washers and the bearing sleeve 64. Mounted on thebolt 60 and interposed between the head of the latter and a ineml er 34is a spacing washer 66. The bolt 69 extends beyond one of said members34 and carries a nut 67 which in connection with the head 6l couples apivot structure 19 or 29 relative to a seat structure and one end of theteetering structure. `interposed between the` said one of said members34 and the nut 67 is a spacing washer 68. l The link 58" is formedwithan opening 69 which communicates with the channel 59. The latter inconnection with port 63 and opening 69 provides for supplying lubricantto between the sleeves 62, 64. The sleeve 64 provides `a bearing for thebolt 60', the latter constituting a pivot. The sleeve 64 also provides abearing for sleeve ,I 62, The carrier pivots upon sleeve 64.

The upper central combined bracing, coupling and pivot structure 2l(Figures 5 and l0) for the teetering structure 15 includes asubstantially T- shaped casting 79 having its head 7l Y formed with apair of spaced parallel vertical openings 72 and its stern 73 providedwith a horizontally disposed opening 74 of greater diameter than eitherof the openings 72. The head 72 is of rectangular contour and isprovided in its upper face with a lengthwise disposed groove 75extending from one end to the other thereof and has mounted therein thecentral portion 76 of the bar` 37. Positioned the opening 74 is a.bearing sleeve 77 having its ends flush with the sides of casting 79.Extending through the openings 39 and bushing 77 is a bolt 78 having itshead 79 abutting the outer side of one oi the uprights 28. The bolt 78extends beyond the other of said uprights 28 and carries a securing nut89 and mounted onbolt 78 is a spacing washer 8l which is interposedbetween the other of said uprights 28 and the nut 80. Positioned betweenAcasting 70 and the uprights 28 and mounted on bolt 78 are spacingwashers 82. Extending through `spaced parallel openings 83 formed in thecentral portion 76 of bar 37 are headed bolts 84 which also extendthrough the openings 72, as well as depend from the head 71 of casting70. The lower ends ofthe bolts 84 carry securing nuts 85. The casting 70is arranged between and extends abovethe upper ends of the uprights 28.The stern 73 of casting 70 has a port 86 extending from one side edge ofthe casting to opening 74 for the purpose of supplying lubricant to thesleeve 77. The bolt 78 and nut couple the bar 87 to the supportingstructure `l5 and provide a stationary pivot for the teetering structure16. The head 71 of the casting 79 and bolts 84 act as a bracing andreinforcing `means for the central portion 76 of bar 37.

The lower centralcornbined bearing, coupling and pivot structure(Figures 5 to 9) for the teetering structure 15 includes bearing sleeve87 which is mounted in the openings 31 and is of a length to extend fromeach of the uprights 28. tioned in and extending fromeach end of thesleeve 87 is a bearing sleeve 88. Extending through the openings 35 inthe members 34 and through the sleeve 88 is a headed bolt 89 which abutsthe outer side face of one of the members 34 and extends from the outerside face of the other member 34. The bolt 89 carries a securing nut 99.A pair of spacing washers 91 are mounted on bolt 89 and one isinterposed between the nut and one of the members 34 and the other isinterposed between the head 92 of the bolt and the end of said members34. A pair of spacing washers 93 are mounted on the bolt 89 and areinterposed between the outer ends of sleeve 88 and the members 34. Thebolt 89 and nut 90 couple the teetering structure 16 to the supportingstructure 15. The bolt 89 provides a movable pivot for the teeteringstructure 16. The sleeve 87 is formed with an opening 94 for the passageof a lubricant to sleeve 88. The latter has its ends fgend of the latteris formed with a horizontal opening 98. The upper face of leg 97 isformed with a groove 99 disposed lengthwise of and extending from oneend to the other end thereof. The leg 97 is of rectangular contour inplan and is provided intermediate its ends with a vertical opening 100.The leg 96 is arranged between and extends above the upper ends of thelinks 58', 58". The opening 98 is of greater diameter than and alignswith the openings 59 in `the links 58', 58". Mounted in the opening 98is a xed pivot member 101 having reduced end portions 102 positioned inthe openings 59. The outer terminus of each end portion 1921s upset `toabutthe outer face of a link 58", or 58 whereby the member 101 isanchored to the links. The bar 37 seats in the groove 99 and is securedto casting 95 by a headed bolt 183 extending downwardly through opening190. The lower end of bolt 108 carries a s curing nut 104.

The bar 37 adjacent each end is transversely grooved in its top as at105 and seated in such groove is a transversely disposed handle member106 formed with a vertical opening 107 terminating at its upper end intoa countersunk portion 108. The bolt 1,03 and nut 104 also function toPosif secure the handle member 106 to bar 37. The bolt 103 extendsthrough opening 107 and has its head lseated in portion 108.

The modified form of seat structure shown in Figure comprises an oblongcarrier 109 formed with a vertical opening 110 between its verticalmedian and outer end, and a transverse opening 111 between its verticalmedian and inner end. The opening 111 is arranged below the longitudinalmedian of the carrier 109. The latter is formed with a vertical channel112 extended from the upper edge of the carrier 109 to the opening 111.Extending upwardly from the top edge of the carrier 109 between theopening 110 and the outer end oi the carrier is a holding pin orlug 113.The carrier 109 at each side thereof is formed with a vertical groove114, only one shown, and corresponding to grooves 49. The opening 111communicates with each of the grooves 114. The carrier 109 is providedwith a transverse opening 115 adjacent the channel 112 and above opening111 and which communicates with the grooves'll. Mounted on the top edgeof the carrier 109 is a seat member 116 having a socket 117 on its lowerface to receive the pin or lug 113 to arrest the shifting of member 116relative to carrier 109. The seat member 116 is formed with an opening117 registering with vertical opening 110. Holdfast means 118 secure thecarrier 109 and member 116 together and'which extend through theopenings 110, 117. The grooves 110 correspond to grooves 49, but theinner wall of one of the grooves 114 is not formed with a channel 50 asis provided in carrier 40. The grooves 114 receive a pair of links 118,only one of i which is shown. Each link 118 is of a formsimilar to link58'. The pivot structure between the modied form of seat structure andthe teetering structure 16 is the same as that referred to with respectto a seat structure 19 orv20 with this exception, that both links aresubstantially similar to link 58 and not provided with an opening 69.The channel 112 permits of the supplying lubricant to the pivotstructure between the modified form of seat structure and the teeteringstructure 16.

The pivot structures 19 or 20 are capable of being disassembled and areso formed that each can be released to enable the substituting of a newbearing sleeve 611 for a worn one without completely removing suchstructure from a seat or teetering structure and the setting up of suchpivot structure with a bearing sleeve 64 reduced to a minimum wear uponthe bolt 60. The foregoing statement applies also to the lower centralpivot structure between the supporting and teetering structures. Themanner of setting up the lower central pivot structure and the pivotstructure 19 or 20 prevents pinching or clamping the hand of a personwhen grasping the seesaw centrally of and at the ends of the lowerportion of the teetering structure. The connections between the seatstructures and with the ends of the teetering structure provides for theseat members to be permanently disposed in parallel relation to theground or other surface upon which the supporting structure is mounted.

The seesaw may be readily knocked down and set up when desired, as theseat structures are detachably connected with the teetering structureand the members 34 of the teetering structure detachably connected withthe supporting structure and with the bar 37.

What I claim isz- 1. A seesaw comprising a skeleton teetering structureincluding a top part and a bottom part and having a pivot means at eachend of its top part and a pivot means at each end of its bottom part,said pivot means for the lower part extending therethrough, carrierswithin and extending from each end of said bottom part and encompassingthe pivot means near each end of said bottom part, means encompassingthe pivot means at the ends of said bottom part,.secured to the sides ofeach of said carriers, extending upwardly beyond said sides andencompassing the pivot means near the ends of said top part forconnecting said top part with the carriers and with the ends of saidbottom part, a vertical supporting structure extending through saidbottom part and having its upper end opposing in spaced relation thebottom of said top part, means secured to said top part and anchored tosaid supporting structure for pivotally supporting said top part at itstransverse center over the upper end of said structure, and meansanchored to said bottom part and extending through said supportingstructure for pivotally supporting said bottom part at its transversecenter adjacent opposite sides of said supporting structure below themeans for pivotally supporting said top part at the transverse center ofthe latter.

2. In a seesaw of that type including a vertical supporting structure, ateetering structure opposing in spaced relation the sides and top of andprovided at its transverse center with an upper and a lower pivot meansfor connecting it at its transverse center at two superposed spacedpoints with the supporting structure, said upper pivot means including aT-shaped casting xed to the teetering structure and extending into theupper end of the supporting structure, a bearing sleeve mounted in thecasting, a pivot bolt extending through the sleeve and supportingstructure, a securing nut on the bolt and spacing means for the castingand nut; and said lower pivot means including a sleeve extending throughthe supporting structure, a bearing sleeve of greater length than,extending through and projecting from the ends of said other sleeve, apivot bolt extending through the teetering structure and said bearingsleeve, a securing nut on the bolt and spacing means between the bearingsleeve and said structure.

3. A seesaw comprising a vertical supporting structure, a bar arrangedabove and having means depending centrally therefrom into the top ofsaid structure, said means being pivotally supported in said structurebelow the top of the latter, a pair of elongated members arranged belowsaid bar and opposing the sides of said structure, means extendingthrough said members and structure for pivotally supporting said memberscentrally thereof from said structure below the top of the latter, apair of seat elements arranged between the ends of and extending`cutwardly from said members, means extending through said members andstructure for pivotally supporting the inner ends of said elements fromthe ends of said members, a pair of links countersunk in, anchored toand extended upwardly from the sides of each of said elements, saidlinks at their lower ends encompassing said means at the ends of saidmembers, apertured members depending from the ends of said bar betweenthe pairs of links, and means for pivotally connecting the upper ends ofsaid links to the said apertured members.

4. A seesaw comprising a vertical supporting structure, a bar arrangedabove and having means depending centrally therefrom into the top ofsaid structure, said means being pivotally supported in said structurebelow the top of the latter, a pair of elongated members arranged belowsaid bar and opposing the sides of said structure, means extendingthrough said members and structure for pivotally supporting said memberscentrally thereof from said structure below the top of the latter, apair of seat elements arranged between the ends of and extendingoutwardly from said members, means extending through said members andelements for pivotally supporting the inner ends of said elements fromthe ends of said members, a pair of links countersunk in, anchored toand extended upwardly from the sides of each of said elements, saidlinks at their lower ends encompassing said means at the ends of saidmembers, apertured members depending from the ends of said bar betweenthe pairs of links, means for pivotally connecting the upper ends ofsaid links to the said apertured members, and the said means forpivotally sup porting the inner ends of said elements, one of the linksof each pair of links and said elements having coacting portions forconducting lubricant to the interior of such means.

5. In a seesaw, a teetering structure, a support extending upwardlythrough said teetering structure, a sleeve anchored to and extendingthrough said support and formed with a lubricant port, a bearing sleeveof greater length than, mounted in and extending from the ends of theother of said sleeves, a headed bolt extending through said bearingsleeve and structure, a securing nut on the bolt, and spacing means onthe bolt located between respectively said structure and the ends of thebearing sleeve, said structure and the bolt head and said structure andthe nut.

6. In a seesaw, a teetering structure including a centrally disposed topbar, a vertical support having its upper end arranged in spaced relationwith respect to the bottom of said bar, a casting depending into the topof said support, said casting having its upper end grooved, said barseating in said groove, means for anchoring the casting to said bar,said casting being formed in proximity to its lower end with an opening,a sleeve positioned in the opening, a headed pivot bolt extendingthroughsaid support below the top of the latter and through said sleeve, asecuring nut on the bolt, andfspacing means on the bolt and disposedbetween the ends of the sleeve and said support.

7. In a seesaw, a teetering structure, a support for the latter, saidstructure including a top part and a lower part pivotally connected withsaid support,carriers arrangedwithin and extending from the ends of.saidlow part, pivot means in proximity to the ends of and extending throughsaid lower part for the inner ends of the carriers, seat elementssecured upon the carriers, said elements and carriers having coactingmeans to prevent saidV elements shifting relative to the carriers, apair of links secured to and extending `above the sides of each of thecarriers, castings anchored to the ends of and depending from the bottomof said top part between the links of said pairs, and means forpivotally connecting the upper end of a pair o links to each of saidcastings.

8. In a seesaw a pair of spaced parallel supporting standards, an upperpivot bolt extending through said standards in proximity to their upperends, spaced upper spacer elements upon said bolt and abutting the inner'face of said standards, a lower pivot bolt extending hrough andprojecting Broni the cuter sides of said standards, said lower pivotbolt having a head at one end and carrying a nut at its upper end andarranged in spaced alignment to said other bolt, a teetering structureformed of a high part and a low part, said high part arranged over saidstandard and provided with means depending from its lower a-ce tobetween said upper spacing elements and pivotally mounted on saidv upperbolt, said lower part formed of two sections, each mounted upon a part othe lower bolt extended from the outer side of a standard in proximityto said head or bolt, a bearing sleeve encompassing said lower bolt andprojecting from the outer sides of said standards, a pair of lowerspacer elements interposed between the ends of said sleeve and the innerfaces of said sections and mounted on said lower bolt, a pair of endbolts constituting pivots, each endbolt extending through said sectionsnear an end thereof, a pair of seat structures extending between theends of said sections and each including a tubular bearing extendingfrom` its sides and mounted upon an end bolt, two pair of upstandinglinks, each pair being mounted upon an end bolt, anchored to the sidesof and extending above a seat structure, spacing means mounted on theend bolts and interposed between the ends of said tubular bearings andthe inner faces of said sections, and means for pivotally connectingeach pair of links with an end of said high part, the latter beingdisposed centrally with respect to said,low part.

ETHAN HEINLY.

